Roller-skate



(No Model.)

C. F. HIRT.

ROLLER SKATE.

Patented Nov. 3, 1885. faQ/a1.

Der Mmo/c UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES F. HIRT, OF ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA.

ROLLER-SKATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 329,556, dated November3, 1885.

Application filed February l2 1885. Serial No. 155,682.

To all whom it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, CHARLEs F. HIRT, a citizen of the United States,residing at Erie, in the county of Erie and State of Pennsylvania, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Roller-Skates 5 and I dohereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionof the invention, such as will enable others skilled inthe art to whichit appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to roller-skates; and it consists in improvementsin the means for allowing lateral iiexure of the foot-plate.

In most roller-skates in common use lateral ilexure is effected bypivoting the trucks to hangers on the under side of the foot-plates, andelasticity of flexure is secured by interposing a spring of rubber. In afew cases 'metallic springs are used.

Fora skate to operate perfectly it should bend in joint easily, so as torequire no extra exertion on the part of the skater, and at the sametime it should react when the foot is lifted from the floor and bringthe wheels into proper line with the foot for the next step or stroke.

The object of myinvention is to so construct the joint as to insure aperfect reaction into line with a light and easily-deflected spring,

My device is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, as follows:

Figure lis a side elevation of the skate with one of the truck-joints"in vertical section. Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the same 3 5joint at right angles to the section shown in -sockets on the trucks;C', the journal-sleeve of the axles; D, the axles; E, the wheels; b, thepivot of the point; b, the inclined bearing-faces of the hanger-stud. Fis a follower in the joint-socket; f, the inclined bearingfaces ofthefollower, f@ the spring-seat on the (No model.)

under side of the follower. Gis the spring, and H the adjustable ortempering spring-seat.

Such other letters as are used will appear in proper relation herein.

In all the skates of this type of which I am acquainted the spring isdepressed on one side as the joint is flexed. I know of no skate havinga verticallyguided bearing-piece interposed between the spring and thepivot of the joint-such, for instance, as the follower F, in theconstruction here shown. This follower is so guided in the socket C thatit cannot be tipped, and hence it must bear upon the spring directly orevenly at all points. It is not essential that the part B and the top ofthe follower F be beveled, as shown, for if they are perfectly flat whenthey bear upon each other the effect Will be the same, substantally; butI prefer the beveled or V shape shown, as it gives the necessary flexurewith less depression of spring and the same reactive elasticity.

I have shown a metallic spring, as I prefer its use, as it will retainits elasticity better than rubber, and can be used in my constructionequally as well as rubber. The tension of the spring is regulated by thefollower I-I in the bottom of the socket C, which may be adjusted byscrewing up into the socket by the screw-thread h,or the lever H2 andadjustingscrew H (seen in Figs. 6 and 7) maybe used.

The operation of the joint is clearly shown in Fig. 3. It will be easilyseen by observing this figure that it Will require very little force todeflect the foot-piece to one side, and that the instant the pressurewhich deiiects it is removed the joint will react instantly, even thoughthe spring be a very weak one, it requiring little more than enoughforce than is needed to overcome the friction of thefollower F on thewall of the socket C. The spring G supports none of the weight oftheskater. It is only depressed by the movement of the point of the V onthe stud B up the incline face f of the follower F. This action is thesame as regards the force to be exerted, whether the skater throws hisfoot over to one side more or less, which gives great freedom and easeto the movements of the skater, much more so than where the action ofthe joint in bending is to pinch a rubber block down on one side ordepress a metallic spring sidewise.

I OC

While the spring G may be made light and weak, as above stated, I findmany'preferit to be strong, and so I make it medium, so it can beadjusted to suit any one by adjusting the lower follower, H.

Vhat I claim as new isl. In a roller-skate, the combination,substantially as shown, of the following elements: the stud B, thesocket C, the pivot b, the spring G, contained within said socket, andthe fol- .'lower F, interposed between the spring and the stud B andheld against lateral tipping on` the spring by the Walls of the socketC.

2. [n a roller-skate, the combination, substantially as shown, of thefollowing element-s:

the stud B with V-forrned.A end, the socket 0 the pivot b, the spring G,contained within the j socket, and the follower F,having a Vfformednotch to receive the V-formed end of :the stud,

interposed betweenvthe spring and the stud and guided against lateralmovement vvby the-walls,-

of the socket C.

3. In a roller-skate, the combination, lsubstantiall y as shown, ofthefollowing elements: the stud B and socket C, pivotedtogether, a

the stud B on the foot-piece, having a V-formed end, the socket C on thetruck-frame, the pivot b, the follower F, having a V-formed notch on itsupper side to receive the end of the stud, a springseat on its lowerside, and

guided by the walls of the socket againstlateral action, the springV G,andthe adjustable spring-seater follower H.

In testimonywhereof I affix `my signaturein 4 5 ypresence of twoWitnesses.

CHARLES F. HIRT. Witnesses: p

J No. K. HALLOCK, RoBzcH. PORTER.

